The Washington critic., 1887-11-01
JOHN DALE'S ALIBI.


most important mines In England.
Railroads at that day had not been
dreamed Of, but the smoothest turnpike
road In the kingdom made transporta.
tion from the mine to the city an easy
matter.
A long July day was melting into
the shades Of evening when John Dale
emerged from the village tavern and
walked across the common. He was
young fellow, stoutly built, and his
rough garb showed him to be laborer.
Dale's face was flushed, and as he
famed himself with his hat 1t would
have been plain even to q casual OBJ.
server In the twilight that he had taken
more strong drink than was good for
him.
The young man had spent the day In
the tavern, and had reached the Wide.
awake. surly, and dangerous stage
of intoxicaiion.
AS he walked slowly along he cursed
the tavern keeper for refusing him
credit.
"He has my wages, blast him /" he
said. "and now he tells me to get out.
Well, 1t is all right"
He paused and looked back. He
could see a score or more of miners
making their way to the tavern. They
had just been released from their work
and were going to make a night of 1t.
II was fool" mutiered Dale, "to
spend the day there by myself, when
II had saved my money and waited
could have been with those good fel
lows. But 1t is too late to talk about It,"
The sound Of footsteps attracted his
attention, and he saw feeble. looking
old man with pack on his back NOV.
ing slowly across the common.
1.-THE peddler," said Dale bitterly,
"the stingy old rascal who laughed
when Oakes ordered me Off the premi.
ses. Curse him / heard the gold
clinking In his pack, and he stood
there jeering at me when was burning
up for drink ~
A cloud settled over the young mans
heavy, sodden face, and his frowning
brow and lurid eyes had menacing
look.
For moment he stood motionless,
struggling with the devilish idea upper.
most In his mind, and then he darted
of after the vanishing form Of the
peddler.
1t was perhaps an hour later when
John Dale, under cover of the dark
ness, slipped into the grimy workshop
Of George Stephenson, his employer.
He lit tallow candle and looked at
his hands.
Blood" he exclaimed; 81 thought
SOL felt It,"
The ruddy glow had left his face, and
nothing but his flaming eyes indicated
his condition. Going to tub of water
In one corner Of the shop he carefully
washed his hands, and then examined
his garments.
Good /" he cried, after brief but
searching inspection. mo traces are
left now, and am ready for the other
part Of the job. The devil But |
wonder what Master Stephenson would
think of this Who would have
thought that the old crank's invention
would prove my salvation2 2"
When he uttered these words his
eyes were upon an odd looking ma
chine In the middle of the room. 1t
was queer, clumsy looking contri.
vance, but It was destined to revolu.
tionize the world.
1t was the first locomotive
Month after month John Dale had
worked In secret with his cranky mas.
ter on this machine. Outside of the
shop nobody knew exactly what was
going on, and the hireling grew so In.
terested In his work that even In his
drunken moments he kept Stephenson s
secret to himself.
Now as he stood there, looking at the
little iron monster, emitting jets of
steam and fired up ready for start,
Dale could not repress smile of salts.
faction. He pulled handful of the
peddler's gold from his pocket and
jiDgled It In his hand.
~ know what 1t can do" he said; ;
at will run twenty. five miles an hour,
and that will be enough to make me
safe."
The simple preparations that had
TO be made did not take long. Stephen.
son had made his machine with a view
10 meeting the requirements of turn.
pike travel, as there were no railway
tracks to try 1t on, and the concern was
more like steam road wagon than
anything else. Occasionally at mid
night the inventor had tested 1t on u
lonely country road. and more than
once Dale had stolen off with 1t for q
solitary ride.
1t was II o'clock by the time piece
over the bar at the Red Lion, In the
hamlet Of Medburg, when John Dale
walked in and called for drink of
brandy. Every man In the jolly crowd
knew him, and he received hearty
greeting.
What is the hour2" asked Dale,
carelessly.
'Just 1l' shouted dozen voices.
"Well, I'll stay awhile, said the new
conner, and he took q seat at Que of
the tables. For au hour or so the bot.
tie was passed around In lively way,
but after awhile the revelers found that
their generous visitor had taken his
departure.
"When did he go?" several asked
Nobody could answer the question,
and after another round of drinks the
men dispersed.
At two o'clock In tho morning John
Dale locked up Master Stephenson 8
steam monster In the workshop, aud
sought his bed In the loft overhead. lie
had made good time. As the crow flies
Medburg was just fifty miles from Kill
Ingworth colliery.
The coroner's inquest over the mur-
dered peddler lasted three days II
was the most exciting event that had
ever occurred In the annals of Killing
worth.
Circumstantial evidence was strongly
against John Dale. lie had left the
tavern and crossed the common Mt